What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot was on training flight circling clockwise around one spot (approx. 300 ft to center, IAS 35 KTS, 40 ft AGL). The aircraft started to increase yaw rate to the right. The pilot applied left pedal to stabilize/stop the yaw rate with continued increase. The pilot was attempting to stop the high yaw rate with appropriate pedal inputs, however the aircraft continued yawing and completed two rapid 360 degree turns around its axis. After the pilot realized he was not able to correct the high yaw rate with pedal inputs he entered into hover-autorotation which stopped the yaw rate. He landed the aircraft without damage to property, persons or passengers, however the aircraft sustained damage to the landing gear due to a hard landing. Extent of damage are pending to factory determination.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT WAS ON TRAINING FLIGHT CIRCLING CLOCKWISE AROUND ONE SPOT (APPROX. 300 FT TO CENTER, IAS 35 KTS, 40 FT AGL). THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO INCREASE YAW RATE TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT PEDAL TO STABILIZE/STOP THE YAW RATE WITH CONTINUED INCREASE. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE HIGH YAW RATE WITH APPROPRIATE PEDAL INPUTS, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED YAWING AND COMPLETED TWO RAPID 360 DEGREE TURNS AROUND ITS AXIS. AFTER THE PILOT REALIZED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE HIGH YAW RATE WITH PEDAL INPUTS HE ENTERED INTO HOVER-AUTOROTATION WHICH STOPPED THE YAW RATE. HE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, PERSONS OR PASSENGERS, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR DUE TO A HARD LANDING. EXTENT OF DAMAGE ARE PENDING TO FACTORY DETERMINATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.